In my gaming life, I never would've thought I'd invest a healthy amount of time into a game like SnowRunner. With the PS5 upgrade out now bringing enhanced visuals, effects and some DualSense implementation, SnowRunner proved to be a slow but quite satisfying and almost relaxing experience at times. The result is a game that's not meant for everybody, but I can mostly recommend as a fantastic simulation that really takes time for the appeal to truly sink in.



Terrain traversal is the name of the game in SnowRunner. Players will have an assortment of trucks and vehicles to drive in order to deliver packages from point A to point B. For the most part, this is the gameplay loop but it's a tough sell at first. The simulation part comes from how you actually traverse the various terrains, exchanging wheels, choosing the correct vehicles for the job and making sure you set the best possible route with minimal collateral damage or challenge to get you to your next destination.

Terrain traversal is the name of the game in SnowRunner.

Initially, I was taken aback by how deliberately slow-paced SnowRunner is. Unlike plenty of other games that deliver thrills per minute, SnowRunner has you driving - often very slowly - through difficult obstacles formed by the terrain, either through snowfall, mud, rocky landscapes or any combination of those. I didn't know how to process its slower pace at first, but eventually it clicked and I found myself mostly enjoying what it had to offer.



The simulation aspects of SnowRunner is what ultimately hooked me in the end. Before you take off to your next destination, you need to be aware of a variety of elements. Do you have enough fuel for the journey there? Would you need to make a stop at a station? Is it close enough to make the trip? What are the chances of an engine failure? Do you have the right vehicle and the correct wheels for the terrain? Have you set a path to your destination that takes into account all of these issues?

I found myself constantly asking these questions while playing SnowRunner and the thrill of any one of these things going wrong during my trips is what kept me going - often due to one of my own miscalculations. Thankfully, there's a great level of customisation that allows you change out your wheels (arguably the most important part of your driving experience), which come with a variety of stats that calculates its efficiency off-road, in mud and water, etc.



The customisation goes much deeper than this, however, as vehicles can be stripped down to engines, gearboxes, suspension, bumpers, rims, snorkels and more to give you a better chance at successfully traversing the difficult terrain. It's all quite in-depth and intuitive once you get the hang of it, though players looking for a game that spends less time in customisation menus might leave a bit underwhelmed.

It's through some trial-and-error that you eventually get a feel for the vehicles...

SnowRunner manages to be relaxing at times and frustrating at others. If everything goes according to plan and you find a route that guarantees smooth sailing, it's easy to just kick your feet back and soak in the sights. This is where the game was at its best for me. Unfortunately, it's also easy to completely misjudge the terrain and end up spending (or rather wasting) half an hour bolstering the wrong type of truck for the job, only to get stuck in the mud and require towing. It's through some trial-and-error that you eventually get a feel for the vehicles, complete with their strengths and weaknesses, but understanding each vehicle is a lengthy process in and of itself.



SnowRunner simply asks a lot from the player and if you're into playing a simulation that dives head-first into the nitty gritty of trucks and delivery vehicles, you might find a lot to enjoy here. However, if you're a casual player looking for something a bit more fast-paced and less time-consuming, SnowRunner won't be up your alley.

The sheer variety of terrain present in the game is awesome...

Strangely enough, a game like Death Stranding prepares you for SnowRunner's core gameplay loop and thrills. I mean this in the sense that you're essentially doing similar tasks: making deliveries across landscapes where you have to be careful of not slipping up and failing. The sheer variety of terrain present in the game is awesome and you get a good sense of each through a pairing of wonderful visuals and some decent haptics and adaptive triggers from the DualSense controller, though I wish it were tightened up a bit more and gave slightly better feedback.



On the PS5 version, the upgrades are mostly noticeable in the graphics. SnowRunner can look downright gorgeous when you soak in the detailed environments. Dirt, snow, water and rocks kick up off the back of each vehicle with a surprising amount of detail and realism. Changes in the day/night and weather also look great and add more layers to the gameplay. The visuals don't exactly scream "next-gen" but they're terrific in their own right and you can tell some thought was put into making it feel like an enhanced version.



SnowRunner on PS5 is not a game I can confidently recommend to anybody because it simply isn't a game that everyone will immediately latch onto. The slow pacing, often frustrating traversal and deliberately tanky controls will turn off those looking for an easy-going experience. However, once all of its mechanics click, it offers a deep and rewarding adventure that isn't like anything else on the market. Maybe give SnowRunner a glance if you need something that feels truly unique.

*Review code provided by Focus Home Interactive